Russian foreign minister to start 3-day visit to North Korea starting on Friday
The ministry made the announcement on Wednesday, saying Lavrov will hold talks with North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said Lavrov will convey a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Wednesday that Lavrov will visit the country from Friday at the invitation of the North Korean foreign ministry.
The two countries have been enhancing their cooperation mainly in the military area since they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June last year. Visits by dignitaries have also become active.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Nearly 70% of A-bomb survivors concerned about nuclear arms use: poll
OSAKA - Nearly 70 percent of atomic bomb survivors believe nuclear weapons could be used again, with many citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's weapons development, according to a Kyodo News survey conducted ahead of the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan. Many respondents were also not optimistic that last year's Nobel Peace Prize win for Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors, would help bring about a world without nuclear weapons, with more than 60 percent expecting little or no change. The survey, which received valid responses from about 1,500 survivors, including those exposed to the bombing in utero, shows that many still view a nuclear crisis as a real possibility despite their efforts to raise awareness of the devastating and inhumane consequences of atomic weapons. When asked whether the risk of nuclear weapons being used again is increasing, 68.6 percent said it is, 6.7 percent said it is not, and 24.7 percent said they did not know. Reasons cited by respondents in their 80s for the increased risk of nuclear weapons being used included Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats, the "spread of parochial nationalism," and "a lack of careful consideration in discussions about nuclear use." Although nearly 80 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which are estimated to have killed some 214,000 people by the end of 1945, the largest group of respondents, 45.7 percent, said they "cannot forgive" the United States, followed by 24.3 percent who said they have "no special feelings" and 16.9 percent who said they "did not know." Turning to their own country, nearly 70 percent of atomic bomb survivors gave a negative assessment of the Japanese government's efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, citing its refusal to join a U.N. treaty banning the armament. As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings in war, Japan agrees on the need to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons. However, an outright ban has been incompatible with its policy of relying on U.S. nuclear deterrence for protection against potential threats. Just under 25 percent said Japan should immediately leave the so-called U.S. nuclear umbrella, while 43.9 percent said it should eventually do so, but that it is too soon at this time. Those opposed to Japan's exit accounted for 19.6 percent, with one respondent pointing to the "threats" posed by North Korea, China and Russia and another saying that Japan has "no other means to protect itself." As atomic bomb survivors age, more than 70 percent of respondents said they have never spoken about their experiences, and 45.5 percent said they had no memory of the bombing. The questionnaire was sent to about 6,600 people starting in February, with the cooperation of groups affiliated with Nihon Hidankyo, or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. Valid responses came from 1,532 people, aged between 79 and 104. The United States dropped an atomic bomb over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and detonated a second one above Nagasaki three days later. Japan surrendered six days after the Nagasaki bombing, bringing an end to World War II.
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Japan Times
Six killed in massive Russian drone, missile attack across Ukraine
Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles overnight, killing at least six people in the latest wave of strikes, Ukraine said Saturday, adding that it was close to an agreement to receive more Patriot air-defense systems. "The Russians continue to use their specific tactics of terror against our country, striking concentrated blows at one city or another, at one region or another," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address. Moscow has stepped up aerial strikes over recent months as U.S.-led ceasefire talks have stalled. "Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were 'Shaheds,'" Zelenskyy said, referring to Iranian-made drones. The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles, adding that one missile and about 20 drones had hit "five locations." Zelenskyy said the strikes had killed at least two people and wounded 20 in the southwestern Chernivtsi region, far from the front lines of the east and south. Twelve people were wounded in Lviv, also in the west, while in the east, two people died in Dnipropetrovsk and three were wounded in Kharkiv, local officials said. Russia also "dropped two guided aerial bombs on the homes of civilians" in the northeastern Sumy region killing two, the local prosecutors office said. 'Deliberate and despicable' Zelenskyy said that some of the drones sent by Russia had been "simulators" intended to "overload the air defense system and make it more difficult to shoot down the 'suicide drones.' This is their deliberate and despicable terror." The Russian defense ministry said it had targeted companies in Ukraine's military-industrial complex in Lviv, Kharkiv and Lutsk and a military aerodrome. In a video message, Zelenskyy said "we are close to reaching a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and missiles for them." Ukraine was stepping up production of its own interceptor systems, he added. U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg is due to begin his latest visit to Ukraine on Monday as a Washington-led peace effort flounders. U.S. President Donald Trump also said he would make a "major statement ... on Russia" on Monday. On Friday, the Kremlin restated its opposition to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv's allies had a plan "ready to go ... in the hours after a ceasefire." Trump called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week but said afterwards that there had been no progress towards ending the war. The Kremlin said Putin would not give up on Russia's war goals but would nonetheless continue to take part in negotiations. Moscow says its aim in Ukraine is to get rid of the "root causes" of the conflict and has demanded that Kyiv give up its NATO ambitions. Weapons, sanctions Washington's announcement earlier this month that it would pause some armament deliveries to Ukraine was a blow to Kyiv, which is reliant on Western military support. On Saturday, Zelenskyy urged his Western allies to send "more than just signals" to stop the war launched by Russia in February 2022. "The pace of Russian air strikes requires swift decisions and it can be curbed right now through sanctions," he said on social media. Zelenskyy specifically demanded penalties for those who "help Russia produce drones and profit from oil." Oil exports are important for the Russian economy especially in the face of existing Western sanctions. Sanctions imposed on Russia — the world's largest fertilizer producer — after the invasion spared its grain and fertilizer exports. But prices skyrocketed, fueling fears of food insecurity. The United Nations signed a deal with Russia in July 2022 to facilitate exports of food and fertilizer to limit global price increases. But on Friday, it said the accord would not be renewed when it expires on July 22. Russia has repeatedly complained the agreement does little to protect it from secondary sanction effects.
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Japan Times
U.S. urges clarity on Japan's role in potential war over Taiwan, report says
The Pentagon is urging Japan to make clear the role it would play in the event of a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan, a media report said Saturday, with the U.S. Defense Department's No. 3 official later appearing to confirm the push. U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has been broaching the sensitive issue in meetings with Japanese and Australian officials in recent months, the Financial Times (FT) quoted unidentified sources as saying. Following the report's publication, Colby said in a post to X that linked to the report that the Defense Department is focused on implementing U.S. President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda of 'restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength.' He said that included 'urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense.' Quoting an unidentified U.S. defense official, the FT said the 'animating theme' of the discussions with allies was 'to intensify and accelerate efforts to strengthen deterrence in a balanced, equitable way.' But the move reportedly caught Japanese officials off-guard since the U.S. itself maintains a policy of 'strategic ambiguity' on whether or not it would defend democratic Taiwan. China claims the self-ruled island as its own and has vowed to unify it with the mainland, by force if necessary. Colby hinted in his post on X that moves by the Pentagon under Trump had caused unease among some U.S. partners, but emphasized that the U.S. side 'will not be deterred from advancing his agenda.' 'Of course, some among our allies might not welcome frank conversations,' he wrote. 'But many ... are seeing the urgent need to step up and are doing so.' Elbridge Colby, then-nominee to be U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy under President Donald Trump, arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington in March. | BLOOMBERG Asked to confirm the report, the Pentagon referred The Japan Times to Colby's X post and one by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell quoting a media commentator praising the FT story. 'The Department of Defense is focused on preventing war, with a strong shield of deterrence,' Parnell said in quoting the commentator. 'That requires strength — but it is a simple fact that our allies must also do their part.' Washington is Taiwan's most important global backer and arms supplier — despite not having formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. Trump has refused to say what he would do in the event of a Taiwan emergency, differing from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who deviated from U.S. policy several times by hinting that the United States would defend the island. Tokyo, which also does not have diplomatic ties with Taipei, has also become more vocal about its concerns over Taiwan in recent years. The Chinese military has ramped-up training and drills near the island, unnerving Japan and prompting senior government and ruling party officials to say that an emergency over Taiwan would also represent an emergency for Japan. Those fears are widely seen as a driving factor behind Japan's push to beef up its defense capabilities, with Tokyo saying in a defense white paper last year that China's string of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan likely 'demonstrated at least part of Beijing's invasion strategy.' Japan in March unveiled an evacuation plan for the roughly 120,000 people on remote southwestern islands near Taiwan, drawn up with a possible conflict in mind. A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is displayed at a park during Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercise in Taichung, Taiwan, on Saturday. | REUTERS The U.S. and Japan are also widely believed to be working on concrete operation plans in the event of an emergency over Taiwan. Recent bilateral and trilateral military drills involving the U.S., Japan and Australia — including this month's Southern Jackaroo and Talisman Sabre exercises — are largely focused on interoperability with a Taiwan contingency in mind. But any military response by Japan would face constitutional and legal restraints, though these have been loosened over the last decade. Much would also depend heavily on whether China struck U.S. or Self-Defense Force bases in Japan. Japanese leaders would have to formally declare such a contingency as being at a certain level to allow the SDF to respond. That process would likely take some time to unfold — a likely concern of Washington — although the severity of the situation could quicken decision-making. Experts say that in the event of a Taiwan contingency, time would be of the essence when making critical policy decisions. 'The allies should avoid, at all costs, a situation in which the U.S. is engaged in the defense of Taiwan while Tokyo debates its response,' James J. Przystup, a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute think tank, wrote in an analysis released Thursday. 'Failure to respond in a timely fashion would put the alliance at risk,' he added.
